ArcaMax

Five years ago, I introduced the garden reader to "The Little Indigo That Could." That little indigo named Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo is still doing it. Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo petunia, winner of 34 awards, can now add another trophy to the case as it has been designated a Louisiana Super Plant standing right next to the granddaddy of ...Read more

It is that time of year again: time to find a Christmas present for the gardener or the wildlife enthusiast in the family. That may or may not be the same person.

Ask any gardener if they want hummingbirds in their garden. They will all say yes. Many flowers attract hummingbirds. Red ones are great; tube-shaped ones are even better; and red, ...Read more

As I write this, the first week of November, the fall leaf colors have barely made a ripple in my area. The sweetgums show a hint as do the gingkos. My Japanese maple looks like it did in July, and the list goes on. But I have been enjoying the oranges and yellows of autumn via the prettiest flowers ever.

It began with an early September ...Read more

Your landscape will strike gold with this year’s new Chicklet Gold Esperanza. Though I am writing about Chicklet Gold, let's spill all the beans and tell you that Chicklet Red will make its debut in 2026.

So, if you think about the Chicklet Esperanza colors Orange, Gold and Red, you get the idea of the Chiclet chewing gum colors that many of ...Read more

Q: How and when should rose bushes be pruned and winterized?

A: What kind of roses do you have? What kind of winter weather do you get?

Protecting roses is not too hard to do if you live in an area that does not freeze for many days in a row. The roses will slow down, lose some leaves and go dormant for a while on their own. Cut back spindly ...Read more

NEW YORK — Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has incurred the wrath of New York City gardening enthusiasts by saying he’d reverse Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to save lower Manhattan’s Elizabeth Street Garden from being converted into affordable housing.

At the end of a candidate forum hosted by the Hell Gate news site last week...Read more

I thought about titling this column "A Shrub for All Seasons." It would be kind of a verbal take off the "Man for All Seasons." But my shrub goes dormant, so I decided the best description would be "A Shrub for All Reasons." Let me explain.

My sister sent me three photos in early October and asked, "How do you like my Double Play Candy Corn ...Read more

Spider Mites on Houseplants

Q: As I was bringing in one of my houseplants for the winter, I noticed that it has spider mites. I put it in a room by itself and have been spraying it with rubbing alcohol. It seemed to be working, but then the mites came back. What works the best on spider mites?

A: Spider mites are very small and hard to see. It...Read more

The parkway garden sits on a commercial stretch of Glendale's Brand Boulevard. It's a modest patch of native plants, hardly visible from the road.

But this baby plot is the pride and joy of the tight-knit group of green thumbers who tend to it. They gather there every last Sunday of the month for Club Gay Gardens, a garden club catering to ...Read more

It is spring in Australia and New Zealand and looks like it in Columbus, Georgia, thanks to a little planting in early September. One plant that is catching my eye every day is the award-winning Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena.

The last time I gave this plant any press was when magenta was the Pantone Color of the Year. It is a color that ...Read more

Q: We noticed that the bark is starting to fall off one of our trees. The tree was planted about three years ago and has been doing fine. The trunk is about 6 inches across, and the lowest branch is about 6 feet above the ground. We peeled off the loose bark, and it is missing from 2 to 5 feet off the ground, all on one side. What should we do? ...Read more

The past two years, have seen rainstorms that were real gully washers at my house in West Georgia. Consequently, my dry creek area with daylilies saw the rocks moving downhill. But the water movement opened the door for one of the most enjoyable gardening projects in years.

The storms created a winding path for water to relocate to the street. ...Read more

Q: I have been cleaning up my flower beds, and I noticed that there are dozens of small trees sprouting up everywhere. I think they are redbud trees from the neighbor's tree. They range from a couple of inches to a couple of feet tall. I am thinking of digging up as many as I can and using some for bonsai and some to give away or sell at a ...Read more

I remember the day quite well. I went to my Rotary Club meeting and returned to my office in the garden. I casually glanced into the garden as I entered the building. I noticed a sizable group of nature lovers gathered around looking through their binoculars. I asked inside if anyone knew what they were looking at. The answer was a great purple ...Read more

Q: My house is being invaded by ladybugs. Why are they coming indoors when there is nothing in here for them? How do I get rid of them?

A: There are several thousand species of ladybugs, or lady beetles or ladybirds, as they may be called, depending on where you live and what your mom called them. Some are what horticulturists call beneficial ...Read more

Four years ago, an ornamental sweet potato shook up the green industry. It was named after Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology. If you remember from junior high, this lady had snakes for hair.

My take on this is that whenever the green industry names a new plant after Medusa, it turns out to be special. Now four years and 29 awards later, ...Read more

Have you seen yellow flowering plants along the side of the road or in people's gardens? They are probably goldenrods. Last week, I talked about the hidden green flowers of ragweed that are the culprits behind hay fever. I mentioned that goldenrods often get the blame, so let's talk about goldenrods.

Are they a wildflower or a weed? Many people...Read more

If you have been on the fence about trying one of the Art & Sol Mangave varieties at your home, Moonglow will seal the deal. Moonglow is one of four selections that will make their debut in 2026 and bring the collection to 10.

If you are on the fence, I see that as a good thing because at least you have heard of Mangave, that totally new plant ...Read more

Ragweeds are in the Ambrosia genus in the aster family. There are about 50 species of ragweed. Most grow in the desert areas of the American Southwest and Mexico. Some species have been spread around the world, where they are now invasive species. The common name is based on the fact that the leaves may look ragged. The genus name of Ambrosia ...Read more

Crème Brulee looks to be like a rare colored dessert for the landscape in 2026. It is the newest selection in the Heart to Heart series of caladiums. I've been wanting to get my hands on some bulbs, and now I look a little like the Yorkie that chased down the car. As in, what do I do with it?

Heart to Heart Crème Brulee caladium is promoted ...Read more